The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-12
LETTER FROM A KANSAS METHODIST
PREACHER.

Edat0r OF MISUNDERSTANDING II
ceived sample copy of your pape
from one of your subscribers in thi
city, please allow me to say that
have been much impressed by it's con
tents. Perhaps you are not in the hab
it of giving space in your paper to con
tributions from members of orthodo,
sects, but will submit for your consid
Grafton few paragraphs.
For several years your correspondent
has been preacher in the Methods
Episcopal church, and for as man
years has been trying to harmonic or
thodox theology with the most com.
mon-place conceptions of justice and
reason, but the experiment has proved
total failure. am glad to note that
The UNIvERsALIsT so freely expresses
sentiments which hundreds of the
Christian ministers in this country en-
tertain, but are kept from expressing
on account of obedience to popular
opinion. 1t is well-known fact that
an exceedingly large number of the
ministers in the orthodox churches
throughout the West are not soundly
orthodox, but desist from expressing
their honest convictions through fear
of losing their clerical heads.
In making this assertion think not
that l am relating an idle tale, for
know whereof speak, having convers-
ed with a goodly number Of young cler-
gymen of southern Kansas, during the
past year. That there is an undercur-
rent in the theological sentiment of the
present age, which is slowly but IRE
pressibly drifting onward and away
from the antiquated dogmas of the
past is fact which no close observer
of passing events can deny. How
many intelligent clergymen are there
in the United States to-day, who really
believe in that grim, horrid, frightful,
dark, gloomy, blood-chilling, hopeless
doctrine Of irrevocable endless punish
ment !? There are some such theolo-
gians, but 1 ask how many =? How
many loving hearts are there that beat
in sympathy with that idea of God,
who consigns creature to state Of
misery, hopeless and eternal ? There
are none; kind heart beats only in
obedience to kind God. The growing
friendship between the different orders
of Christians the gradual softening in
the methods of discipline in .institu-
tions both civil and religious the grad
ual decline of sectarian prejudice, all
indicate that the "Son of carpenter''
is present in the world to make coffin
in which the cold theology of the past is
to be buried forever and forever, "world
without end"
Even now, instead of journeying with
Baxter through the realms of hate
amid the flames of burning hell, the
disciple Of the gentle Galilean prefers
to walk with Chaplin over the Mount
of Beatitudes and amid the eternal sun
shine of undying love, listening to
Jesus saying, blessed are they that
mourn for they shall be comforted."
Why is there not general breaking
away from the orthodox churches if
the religious sentiment of the age is
drifting SO rapidly toward freedom of
thought ? This question is naturally a
consequence of the assertion that the
religious mind is undergoing radical
change. The so-ealled breaking off from
the church connections may never take
place; but the modern (ancient also)
Interpretation of the true faith will
continue to gain ground among the Or
thodox sects until it permeates the en-
tire body of the Christian church. The
great crusade against the erroneous
features of the prevalent theology may
not achieve its grand victory outside
VA Wiz OANAOOOA OuuAOACo9 OuO OlO WI n
must be wrought out in them.
While very many men, preachers and
laymen, believe that their theology is
sadly wanting in many respects, they
will cling to their churches with 10y
atty that challenges admiration frcm
the most hostile foes of their creeds.
Men form social ties in church rela-
tions which they hesitate to break. We
even love the very names of the churches
whose doctrines we are forced to ques-
tion and even reject. No man willing
ly changes his religious views. Men
who are honest in their convictions dc
not change them in day. 1t is only
after stubborn struggle against ouI
better judgment that we surrender a
dogma which has for years formed a
part of the religious lesson of life.
Even after there has been a change
of doctrine we cling tenaciously to the
churches which have for years been
our homes. For every twenty men who
change their religious views, there is
about one man among them who
changes his church relation. This may
not be best, but it is human. We grad,
ually learn to abhor our former creeds
but continue to love our friends who
entertain them. We act upon the prin
ciple that a good life makes amends fol